Rod guide



United States Patent 3,370,894 ROD GUIDE Melvin Everett Pourchot,Shawnee, 0kla., assignor to Central Research, Inc., Shawnee, Okla, acorporation of Oklahoma Filed July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 469,372 9 Claims.(Cl. 308-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rod guide for a sucker rod andcomprising a pair of substantially identical half-sections adapted to besecured in abutting relationship around the outer periphery of the rod,threaded members extending transversely between the half-sections forsecuring the half-sections around the rod, keeper members provided inthe first half section for retaining the threaded members thereinagainst accidental loss prior to threaded engagement with the threadedmembers of the other half-section, the threaded members in the secondhalf-section being wedged securely therein against rotation and forprecluding loss thereof from the second half-section prior to securingthe halfsections around the rod.

This invention relates to improvements in rod guides for sucker rods inpumping oil wells and more particularly, but not by way of limitation,to a rod guide particularly designed and constructed for simplicity andefiiciency of installation on the rod.

As is Well known, the sucker rods in pumping oil wells normally extendlongitudinally through the well bore or well tubing and are reciprocatedtherein during the pumping operation. Since most well bores are notstraight, and many are purposefully drilled at an angle, the rodsfrequently wear against or engage the walls of the tubing during thereciprocation thereof, which creates detrimental wear on the rods. Inaddition, most of the rods are constructed of metal, and are usuallysubject to electrolytic action resulting from the electrical forcesnormally present underground, which further damages the rods andrequires replacement thereof. It is usually necessary to pull the rodsfrom the Well bore in order to replace or repair the damaged portionthereof. This is expensive and time consuming, particularly in dee wellswherein the rod may be extremely long.

In an etfort to reduce the Wear of the rods against the sidewalls of thewell tubing, many rod guide devices have been developed for installationaround the outer periphery of the rod and spaced longitudinallytherealong. These guides are disposed around the outer periphery of therods and spaced therealong for protecting the rods against engagementwith the well tubing. Of course, it is desirable to install the guidesaround the rod in a lateral direction rather than a longitudinaldirection due to the length of the rods. This has created a problem inthat it is frequently diificult to secure the guides around the rod in amanner for precluding slippage of the guides along the rod. In addition,bolts, or the like, which are often utilized for securing the guides onthe rod, frequently loosen 3,379,894 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 and falldownwardly in the well bore and damage the pumping equipment.Furthermore, most of these guide devices are constructed from wood orrubber materials, in order to reduce the corrosion action due to thewell fluids, and consequently are often not durable in construction.

The present invention contemplates a novel rod guide particularlydesigned and constructed for ease of installation around a sucker rod,and to substantially eliminate the loss of the securing memberstherefrom. In addition, the novel rod guide is constructed from asuitable plastic material, such as nylon, which is corrosion resistant,and has insulating properties for protection of the rod fromelectrolytic action. The rod guide comprises two halfsections adapted tobe secured in abutting engagement around the outer periphery of the rod.Each half-section is provided with a plurality of transversely extendingbores adapted for alignment with the respective bores of the other halfsection whereby threaded members and complementary lock nuts may beutilized for securing the two half-sections around the rod. Thehalf-sections are particularly constructed for insertion of all thethreaded members from the same side of the guide, thus greatly reducinginstallation time. In addition, the threaded members and lock nuts aredisposed within the respective halfsections prior to shipping thereof,thus reducing the necessity of inserting the bolts and nuts at theinstallation site. The nuts are inserted in a manner for becomingsecurely positioned in one half-section and keeper means is providedintegral with the other half-section for precluding accidental loss ofthe bolts therefrom prior to disposition of the guide around the rod. Inaddition, the bolt and nut means utilized for securing the half-sectionsaround the rod are of the self-locking type to eliminate accidentalloosening of the bolts and loss from the guide member subsequent toinstallation thereof around the rod. The novel rod guide is simple andeflicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel rod guideparticularly designed and constructed for facilitating the installationthereof on a sucker rod, or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel rod guidewherein the threaded securing members may be inserted from the same sideof the guide for reducing installation time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a I novel rod guidewherein the securing members may be inserted therein prior to shippingthereof for further reducing installation time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel rod guidewherein means is provided for precluding accidental loss of the securingmembers therefrom prior to installation of the guide around the rod.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel rod guidewherein the securing members are locked in the engaged positionsubsequent to installation of the guide around the rod for substantiallyprecluding accidental loss of the securing members.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the presentinvention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with adetailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational veiw of a half-section of a rod guideembodying the invention disposed on a rod, i

with the rod being depicted in dotted lines for purposes ofillustration.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a rod guide embodying theinvention installed around a rod, with a portion thereof depicted insection, said section being taken in line 2-2 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of a rod guide embodying theinvention disposed around a rod, with the rod depicted in section.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view of a portion of One rodguide half-section particularly illustrating the keeper member.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a stud member and complementarylock nut as may be utilized in the invention, with the nut beingdepicted in section for purposes of illustration.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character generallyindicates a substantially cylindrical rod guide comprising a pair ofsubstantially identical halt-sections 12 and 14 adapted to be securedaround the outer periphery of a reciprocal rod 16. The guide 10 ispreferably molded or otherwise constructed from a suitable plasticmaterial having corrosion resistant qualities and insulatingqualities,such as molydisulphide nylon. The half-section 12 is substantiallysemi-cylindrical and is provided with a centrally disposed semi-circulargroove or recess 18 extending longitudinally therealong adapted forengagement against the outer periphery of the rod 16. The centralportion of the recess 18 is enlarged or relieved at 20 in order toassure that the spaced portions of the recess 18 will efliciently engagethe outer periphery of the rod. Thus, any unevenness in either the outerperiphery of the rod 16, or the recess 18 will be compensated for,whereby the half-section 12 may be snugly disposed adjacent the rod 16.

The half section 12 is further provided with a plurality of spaced bores22, 22a, 22b, and 22c extending transversely therethrough. Each bore 22,22a, 22b and 220 is substantially identical, and as shown in FIGURE 2,the bore 22 is provided with an enlarged portion 24 to provide anannular shoulder 26 for receiving a suitable look. ing member or insert28 thereagainst. The outer periphery of the lock nut or insert 28 isfluted or provided with radially extending circumferentially spacedpointed or sharp members which bite into the inner periphery of the boreportion 24 as the insert 28 is passed into position therein. Thissecurely fastens the insert 28 within the halfsection 12 and precludesrotation of the nut 28 with respect thereto. Of course, each bore22,'22a, 22b, and 22c are similarly provided with enlarged portions forreceiving a lock nut or insert member therein.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extendingrecesses or flutes 32 are provided around the outer periphery of thehalf-section 12. The flutes 32 provide fluid passageways for the wellfluids, both liquids and gases, during reciprocation of the bore 16.This facilitates the passage of the well fluids between the guide 10 andwell tubing (not shown).

As hereinbetore set forth, the half-section 14 is substantiallyidentical to the half-section 12 and is provided with a centrallydisposed bore 34 similar to the bore -18 extending longitudinallytherealong for engagement with the outer periphery of the rod 16. Thebore 34 is also provided' with a centrally disposed enlarged or relievedporreceiving the head 42 of a threaded bolt 44, or the like,thereagainst. A relatively thin inwardly directed annular lip of feelermember 46 is provided in the proximity of the exposed end of the bore36. The feeler 46 is of a thickness of approximately .010 inch and willflex sufliciently upon the insertion of the threaded member 44 into thebore 36 for engaging the threaded portion thereof for holding thethreaded stud within the bore 36 prior to shipping of the guide 18 forprecluding accidental loss of the threaded member 44 therefrom.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extendingrecesses or flutes 48, similar to the flutes 32, are provided on theouter periphery of the half-section 14. The flutes 48 provide additionalpassageways for flow or movement of the well fluids between the guide 10and the well tubing.

The transversely extending bores of the half-section 14 are disposed insubstantial alignment with the transversely extending bores of thehalf-section 12 when the two halfsections are disposed in abuttingrelationship around the outer periphery of the rod 16. The threadedmembers 44 may then be threadedly secured to the lock nuts 28 in orderto retain the guide 10 in position around the rod 16.

The studs 44 and inserts 28 are of any suitable selflocking type. Forexample, the stud 44 may be provided with a longitudinally extendingnylon insert (not shown) disposed in the threaded shank thereof andextending radially beyond the outer periphery of the threads. Thus, whenthe stud 44 is threadedly engaged with the insert 28, the nylon materialwill flow into the space between the threads for locking the elementstogether. Alternately, a portion of the threads of each threaded member44 may be provided with a relatively thin coating of one component of asuitable epoxy glue, such as is well known and in wide spread use todayand as shown at 45 in FIGURE 5. The internal threads (not shown) of eachlock nut 28 are preferably provided wit-h a similar coating of thesecond component of the epoxy glue as shown at 29 in FIGURE 5. The useof such an epoxy type cement or glue is disclosed in the Jay D. AnthonyPatent No. 3,061,- 455, issued Oct. 30, 1962, and entitled Self-LockingThreaded Fastener. When the threaded members 44 are threadedly engagedwith the respective lock nuts 28, the coatings of the complementarythreads thereof will react chemically due to the friction engagement forsecurely ce menting or glueing the threaded members 44 within the locknuts 28. This substantially precludes any accidental loss of either thethreaded members 44 or lock nuts 28 from the respective bores 36 and 22.Of course, any suitable self-locking means may be utilized for the studs44 and nuts 28.

Of course, the heads 42 of the threaded members 44 may be provided withsockets (not shown) for receiving a suitable socket wrench (not shown)therein in order to facilitate the threaded members 44 with therespective nuts 28. As hereinbefore set forth, the outer periphery ofthe nuts 28 bites into the periphery of the bores 22 for anchoring thenuts 28 therein, thus facilitating the threading of the members 44 inthe nuts 26.

By way of summary, the rod guide 10 comprises the two semi-cylindricalhalf-sections '12 and 14 which may have the locking nuts 28 disposedwithin the bores 22 of one half-section and the threaded members 44loosely disposed within the bores 36 of the other half-section prior toshipment of the guide 10 to the field installation site. The bitingengagement of the nuts 28 with their respective bores 22 retain the nuts28 in the bores 22, and the keeper members 46 retain the threadedmembers 44 in the respective bores 36 during shipment and prior toinstallation of the half-sections 12 and 14 around the rod 16. Thehalf-sections 12 and 14 may be disposed in abutting relationship aroundthe outer periphery of the rod 16 whereby the respective bores 22 and 36are in substantial alignment. The threaded members 44 may then betightly engaged with the respective lock nuts 28 for securing thehalf-section l2 and 14 around the rod. In addition, since the members 44and 28 are of a self-locking type the nuts and studs are locked in thethreadedly engaged position therebetween for substantially precludingloosening thereof or accidental loss thereof subsequent to dispositionof the rod guide around the rod 16. The abrasion and corrosion resistantqualities of the nylon in combination wtih the insulating qualitiesthereof efiiciently protects the rod 16 from wear due to engagement withthe well tubing and from electrolytic action.

Of course, substantially any number of the guides '19 may be secured tothe rod 16 and spaced therealong as desired. It'is usually preferable tolocate the guide 10 in the proximity of the tubing couplings (not shown)and in the center of a length of rod where there may be buckling orwhipping, but there is no limitation for the positioning or spacing ofthe guides. It is to be noted that all of the threaded members 44 areinstalled from the same side of the guide 10, thus greatly reducing thetime for installation of the guide around the rod 10. In addition, thethreaded members 44 and locking nuts 28 are constructed from a suitablecorrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel, or the like.Thus, the useful and efiicient life of the rod guide 10 is greatlyprolonged.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a novel rod guide for a sucker rod which is particularlydesigned and constructed for speed and ease of installation on the outerperiphery of the rod. In addition, the rod guide is provided with meansfor securely retaining the guide in position around the outer peripheryof the rod, and for substantially precluding accidental loss of thesecuring members during reciprocation of the rod during the pumpingoperations. The novel guide substantially reduces wear and electrolyticdamage to the rod for prolonging the useful life thereof, thus reducingthe expense of operation of the well. The novel rod guide is simple andefiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, itbeing understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Vlhat is claimed is:

1. A rod guide for a sucker rod and comprising a pair of substantiallyidentical half-sections adapted to be secured in abutting relationshiparound the outer periphery of the rod, each of said half-sections beingprovided with a plurality of spaced transversely extending bores inalignment with complementary bores of the other half-section, threadedmeans disposed inthe bores of each half-section prior to installationthereof around the rod, means precluding accidental loss of the threadedmeans from the respective bores prior to installation of thehalf-sections around the rod, said threaded means in each half-sectionengageable with the threaded means in the other half-section for tightlysecuring the half-sections in position around the rod, and meanscooperating with the threaded means for looking the threaded meanssubsequent to the installation of the half-sections around the rod.

2. A rod guide for a sucker rod and as set forth in claim 1 wherein themeans for precluding accidental loss of the threaded means from therespective bores comprises an integral inwardly directed annular keepermember provided in the bores of one half-section and engageable with therespective threaded means disposed therein, and fluted means provided onthe outer periph ery the portion of the threaded means di posed in thebores of the other half-section with said fluted means being engageablewith the inner periphery of the respective bore.

3. A rod guide for a sucker rod and as set forth in claim 1 wherein themeans for locking the threaded means subsequent to the installation ofthe half-sections around the rod comprises an epoxy cement activated bythe threaded engagement of the threaded means for cementing the threadedmeans in a locking position.

4. A rod guide for a sucker rod and as set forth in claim 1 wherein thethreaded means comprises a plural-' ity of locking nuts disposed in eachof the bores of one half-section, and threaded members loosely disposedin each of the bores of the other half-section for threaded engagementwith the respective locking nuts upon disposition of the half-sectionsaround the outer periphery of the rod.

5. A rod guide for a sucker rod and comprising a pair of substantiallysemi-cylindrical half-sections, each of said half-sections beingprovided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extendingsemi-circular recess for engagement with the outer periphery of the rod,a plurality of spaced transversely extending bores provided in the firsthalf-section, a plurality of spaced transversely extending boresprovided in the second half-section and disposed in substantialalignment with the bores provided in the first half-section, locking nutmeans disposed within the bores of the first ha f-section, threadedmeans loosely disposed within the bores of the second half-section,means integral with the second half-section for precluding accidentalloss of the threaded means from the respective bores, means cooperatingbetween the locking nut means and respective bores for resistingrotation of the locking nut means within said bores, said threaded meansadapted for threaded engagement with the locking nut means for tightlysecuring the two halfsections in position around the outer periphery ofthe rod, and means cooperating between the threaded means and lockingnut means for locking the nut and threaded means together forsubstantially precluding accidental loss thereof subsequent to thethreaded engagement therebetween.

6. A rod guide for a sucker rod and as set forth in claim 5 wherein themeans for locking the threaded means and nut in the threaded engagementtherebetween comprises an epoxy cement wherein one component thereof isinitially provided on the threaded means and the second componentthereof is initially provided on the locking nut means, said epoxycomponents being activated by the threaded engagement for cementing thethreaded means within the locking nut means.

7. A rod guide for a sucker rod comprising a pair of substantiallysemicylindrical half-sections adapted to be disposed around the outerperiphery of the rod in abutting relationship, each of saidhalf-sections provided with a centrally disposed semi-circular recessextending longitudinally therealong for engagement with the outerperiphery of the rod, each of said recesses being provided with anenlarged portion for facilitating disposition of the recesses adjacentthe rod, a plurality of spaced bores provided in each half-section andextending transversely therethrough in substantial alignment with thebores of the other half-section, each of said bores being provided withan enlarged portion to provide an annular shoulder therein, locking nutmeans disposed in each bore of one half-section for engagement with therespective annular shoulder, threaded stud means loosely disposed in thebores of the second half-section, for engagement with the respectiveannular shoulder, keeper means provided for each bore of the said secondhalfsection to preclude accidental loss of the threaded stud meanstherefrom, said locking nut means provided with a fluted outer peripheryfor gripping the periphery of the enlarged bore portion for resistingrotation therein, and said threaded stud means engageable with saidlocking nut means in the abutting position of the half-sections forsecuring the half-sections around the periphery of the rod.

8. A rod guide for a sucker rod and as set forth in claim 7 andincluding means cooperating between the locking nut means and threadedstud means for precluding accidental loosening thereof subsequent to thethreaded engagement therebetween.

9. A rod guide for a sucker rod as set forth in claim 7 and includingcement means cooperating between the locking nut means and threaded studmeans for precluding accidental loosening thereof subsequent to thethreaded engagement therebetween, said cement means comprising twocomponents wherein one component is provided on the outer periphery ofthe last portion of the threaded stud means and the second component isprovided on the inner periphery of the locking nutmeans, said twocomponents being activated upon the threaded engagement between thelocking nut means and threaded gagement therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1907 Lees 151 43 2/1925 Stout308-4 4/1946 Sarafin 1s1 -44 7/1950 Moline 151 41.7 10/1962 Anthony151-145 12/1966 Mundt 166-24l FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1943 Germany.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

stud means for cementing thereof in the threaded en- 15 PAUL MASLOUSKY,Exam'l'nefl

